U.S. patent application number 13/744790 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus control method, and storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Koji Sudo, Takashi Yoshimi.
Application Number | 20130194447 13/744790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48838139 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130194447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sudo; Koji ; et al. |
August 1, 2013 |
ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND
STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
An electronic apparatus including an image sensing unit performs
scene determination processing of determining a photographic scene
based on an image being captured by the image sensing unit. Upon
receiving a help designation to display a help screen, the
electronic apparatus displays a description concerning the
determined photographic scene as the help screen.
Inventors: |
Sudo; Koji; (Machida-shi,
JP) ; Yoshimi; Takashi; (Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA; |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
48838139 |
Appl. No.: |
13/744790 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/222.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/232941 20180801;
H04N 5/23258 20130101; H04N 5/23293 20130101; H04N 5/23218
20180801; H04N 5/232933 20180801; H04N 5/23245 20130101; H04N
5/232122 20180801; H04N 5/232123 20180801; H04N 5/23229
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/222.1 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/232 20060101
H04N005/232 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 26, 2012 |
JP |
2012-014578 |
Jan 26, 2012 |
JP |
2012-014579 |
Jan 31, 2012 |
JP |
2012-018822 |
Claims
1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a determination unit
configured to determine a photographic scene based on an image
being captured by an image capture unit; a reception unit
configured to receive a help designation to display a help screen;
and a display control unit configured to control to display, in
accordance with reception of the help designation by said reception
unit, a description concerning the photographic scene determined by
said determination unit as the help screen.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting
unit configured to automatically do photographing settings based on
the determined photographic scene.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display control
unit displays a description of contents of the photographing
settings done by said setting unit as the description concerning
the determined photographic scene on the help screen.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an
operation unit configured to receive a designation of a user,
wherein when an operation mode upon receiving the help designation
is an operation mode that does not use a determination result of
said determination unit, said display control unit displays a
description concerning said operation unit as the help screen, and
when the operation mode upon receiving the help designation is an
operation mode that uses the determination result, said display
control unit displays a description concerning the photographic
scene determined by said determination unit as the help screen.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control
unit controls to display, on display unit, a scene icon
representing the photographic scene determined by said
determination unit together with a through image being captured by
said image capture unit, and in accordance with the reception of
the help designation during display of the through image and the
scene icon, controls to display information more detailed than the
scene icon as the description concerning the photographic scene
determined by said determination unit on the help screen.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the
description concerning the photographic scene determined has been
displayed on the help screen, said display control unit fixes the
photographic scene as a target of the description on the help
screen independently of the determination of the photographic scene
by said determination unit.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stop unit
for stopping the determination by said determination unit during a
time in which said display control unit is displaying the
description concerning the photographic scene determined by said
determination unit as the help screen.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the description
concerning the determined photographic scene is being displayed on
the help screen, said display control unit displays the through
image being captured by said determination unit such that the
through image is visually perceivable.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when a predetermined
time has elapsed after display of the description of the contents
of the photographing settings done by said setting unit on the help
screen, said display control unit displays an advice about how to
hold a camera in accordance with the determined photographic
scene.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description
concerning the determined photographic scene on the help screen
includes an advice about how to hold a camera.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the user has
designated to update the help screen during display of the
description concerning the determined photographic scene on the
help screen, said display control unit switches the help screen to
display of a description concerning a photographic scene
represented by a latest determination result by said determination
unit.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a
notification unit configured to notify the user of a change in the
determination result by said determination unit during display of
the description concerning the determined photographic scene.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reception unit
receives the help designation only during a time in which the
through image being captured by said image capture unit is
displayed.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising an unit
configured to, when the help designation is generated during a time
in which the through image is not displayed, display one of a
warning representing that the through image is not displayed and an
advice to prompt to start displaying the through image.
15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when displaying the
description concerning the determined photographic scene, said
display control unit sets the through image captured by said image
capture unit in a semitransparent state and displays the through
image and the help screen in a superimposed manner.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic
apparatus comprises an image capture apparatus including said image
capture unit.
17. An electronic apparatus control method comprising: a
determination step of determining a photographic scene based on an
image being captured by image capture unit; a reception step of
receiving a help designation to display a help screen; and a
display control step of controlling to display, in accordance with
reception of the help designation in the reception step, a
description concerning the photographic scene determined in the
determination step as the help screen.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
program that causes a computer to execute an electronic apparatus
control method according to claim 17.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus
including an image capture unit, an electronic apparatus control
method, and a storage medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In recent years, a function of automatically determining a
photographic scene upon photographing has evolved in a digital
camera. A digital camera having such a function automatically sets
the photographing conditions of the camera in accordance with the
determined photographic scene so that photographing can
appropriately be performed without causing the user to set the
photographing conditions. There is also an image capture apparatus
that displays a help based on its operating state such that the
user can know how to use the image capture apparatus without any
instruction manual.
[0005] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-253054 (patent literature
1) describes displaying an image representing an operation member
of an image capture apparatus when it has transited to a help mode
and describing the function of the operation member. Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-142884 (patent literature 2) describes
changing the particulars of help display concerning an operation
member based on whether the photographing mode will be used by a
user experienced in the operation of the image capture apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-121654 (patent literature 3)
describes determining a photographic scene based on the features of
an image under photographing and controlling the exposure, the
shutter speed, the flash light emission amount, and the like in
accordance with the determined scene.
[0006] However, patent literatures 1 and 2 do not consider changing
the help screen in accordance with the scene determination result
at all, although they describe doing help display concerning an
operation member based on the photographing mode. Patent literature
3 does not consider cooperation between the scene determination
result and the help screen at all, although it describes reflecting
the scene determination result on the photographing settings.
[0007] An item about which the user requires a description of help
display is supposed to change between an operation mode in which a
lot of photographing settings are automatically done using a result
obtained by determining a photographic scene, as in patent
literature 3, and an operation mode in which many photographing
settings are manually done by the user, as in manual photographing.
For example, in the operation mode in which many photographing
settings are manually done by the user, as in manual photographing,
it is helpful to display, as a help, a description of operation
members to be used for the photographing settings. On the other
hand, in the operation mode in which a lot of photographing
settings are automatically done using a result obtained by
determining a photographic scene, displaying a description of
operation members to be used for the photographing settings is of
little help to the user. Although patent literature 2 describes
changing the particulars of a help displayed for a certain
operation depending on the photographing mode, changing the article
of which a description is to be displayed is not taken into
consideration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One embodiment of the present invention provides an
electronic apparatus capable of appropriately displaying a help in
accordance with a scene determination result, an electronic
apparatus control method, and a storage medium.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention there
is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: a determination
unit configured to determine a photographic scene based on an image
being captured by an image capture unit; a reception unit
configured to receive a help designation to display a help screen;
and a display control unit configured to control to display, in
accordance with reception of the help designation by the reception
unit, a description concerning the photographic scene determined by
the determination unit as the help screen.
[0010] Also, according to another embodiment of the present
invention there is provided an electronic apparatus control method
comprising: a determination step of determining a photographic
scene based on an image being captured by image capture unit; a
reception step of receiving a help designation to display a help
screen; and display control step of controlling to display, in
accordance with reception of the help designation in the reception
step, a description concerning the photographic scene determined in
the determination step as the help screen.
[0011] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of
a digital camera as an example of an image capture apparatus
according to an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the
digital camera according to the embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the overall operation of the
digital camera;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the still image photographing mode
of the digital camera;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of scene determination processing of
the digital camera;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of help processing based on the
photographing mode of the digital camera;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operation member help display of
the digital camera;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of scene help display of the digital
camera;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of scene help display of the digital
camera;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of scene change confirmation
processing of the digital camera;
[0022] FIGS. 11A to 11C are views showing examples of screens in
scene help display of the digital camera;
[0023] FIGS. 12A to 12I are views showing examples of a screen in
operation member help display of the digital camera; and
[0024] FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of help display when
executing scene determination.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
following embodiments will be explained by exemplifying a case in
which an apparatus and method according to the present invention
are applied to an image capture apparatus that is a digital camera
capable of capturing a still image and a moving image.
First Embodiment
[0026] [Arrangement of Digital Camera]
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of
a digital camera 100 as an example of an image capture apparatus
according to the embodiment. A display unit 28 includes a liquid
crystal panel or the like and displays images and various kinds of
information. A shutter button 61 is an operation unit used by the
user to input a photographing designation. A connector 112 connects
a connection cable to the digital camera 100. An operation unit 70
includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a
touch panel for receiving various operations from the user.
[0028] A help button 73 is an operation button used to call a help
mode. The user inputs a help designation by operating the help
button 73. In this embodiment, when the user presses the help
button 73 in a state in which photographic scene determination (to
be referred to as scene determination hereinafter) is not
performed, the display unit 28 displays a description of the
functions and arrangements of operation units corresponding to the
operating state at that time. On the other hand, when the user
presses the help button 73 in a state in which scene determination
is performed, the display unit 28 displays a description about the
scene under photographing. Note that a character "?" is printed or
inscribed on the help button 73 in advance such that the user can
recognize that help information can be displayed by pressing the
help button 73 independently of the display state of the display
unit 28. Note that although the help button 73 has been exemplified
as an operation means for inputting a help designation, the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, another operation
member may be used in combination, or the touch panel provided on
the display unit 28 may be used. A power switch 72 powers on/off
the digital camera 100. A recording medium 200 is a memory card, a
hard disk, or the like. A recording medium slot 201 is used to
store the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 stored in
the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital
camera 100. A lid 202 is the lid of the recording medium slot
201.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the
arrangement of the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2, a photographing lens 103 is a lens group
including a zoom lens and a focus lens. A shutter 101 has a stop
function. An image sensing unit 22 includes an image sensor formed
from a CCD or CMOS sensor that converts an optical image into an
electrical signal. An A/D converter 23 converts the analog signal
output from the image sensing unit 22 into a digital signal. A
barrier 102 covers the photographing lens 103 of the digital camera
100, thereby preventing the image capture system including the
photographing lens 103, the shutter 101, and the image sensing unit
22 from becoming dirty or damaged.
[0030] An image processing unit 24 performs resize processing such
as predetermined pixel interpolation or reduction and color
conversion processing for data from the A/D converter 23 or data
from a memory control unit 15. The image processing unit 24 also
performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image
data. A system control unit 50 performs exposure control and focus
control based on the obtained arithmetic result. AF (Auto Focus)
processing, AE (Auto Exposure) processing, and EF (Electronic Flash
pre-emission) processing of the TTL (Through The Lens) system are
thus performed. The image processing unit 24 also performs
predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and
AWB (Auto White Balance) processing of the TTL system is also
performed based on the obtained arithmetic result.
[0031] The output data from the A/D converter 23 is directly
written in a memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the
memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15 alone. The
memory 32 stores image data obtained by the image sensing unit 22
and converted into digital data by the A/D converter 23 or image
data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a
storage capacity enough to store a predetermined number of still
images or a moving image and voices of a predetermined time.
[0032] The memory 32 also serves as a memory (video memory) for
image display. A D/A converter 13 converts data for image display,
which is stored in the memory 32, into an analog signal and
supplies it to the display unit 28. The display image data written
in the memory 32 is thus displayed by the display unit 28 via the
D/A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display according to
the analog signal from the D/A converter 13 on a display device
such as an LCD. When a digital signal temporarily converted by the
A/D converter 23 and accumulated in the memory 32 is converted into
an analog signal by the D/A converter 13, and the analog signal is
sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 and displayed,
through image display can be performed so that the display unit 28
can function as an electronic viewfinder.
[0033] A nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically
erasable/recordable memory. For example, an EEPROM or the like is
used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants and programs for
the operation of the system control unit 50. The programs here mean
programs to be used to execute various flowcharts to be described
later in this embodiment.
[0034] The system control unit 50 controls the entire digital
camera 100. The system control unit 50 executes the programs
recorded in the above-described nonvolatile memory 56, thereby
implementing each process according to this embodiment to be
described later. A RAM is used as a system memory 52. The constants
and variables for the operation of the system control unit 50, the
programs read out from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are
expanded on the system memory 52. The system control unit 50
controls the memory 32, the D/A converter 13, the display unit 28,
and the like, thereby performing display control as well. A system
timer 53 is a timer unit that measures a time used in various kinds
of control or the time of an internal timepiece.
[0035] A first shutter switch 62 and a second shutter switch 64
included in the shutter button 61 and the operation unit 70 provide
an operation environment for inputting various operation
designations to the system control unit 50. A mode change switch 60
included in the operation unit 70 changes the operation mode of the
system control unit 50 to one of a still image photographing mode,
a moving image photographing mode, a reproduction mode, and the
like. The still image photographing mode includes, for example, an
auto mode, an auto scene mode, a manual mode, various scene modes
for doing photographing settings specific on a photographic scene
basis, a program AE mode, and a custom mode. The mode change switch
60 can change the operation mode to one of these modes included in
the still image photographing mode. Alternatively, after the
operation mode has temporarily been changed to the still image
photographing mode by the mode change switch 60, the mode may be
changed to one of the modes included in the still image
photographing mode using another operation member. Similarly, the
moving image photographing mode can also include a plurality of
modes.
[0036] The first shutter switch 62 is turned on by operating the
shutter button 61 provided on the digital camera 100 halfway, that
is, so-called half stroke (image capture preparation designation)
and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. Operations such as
AF (Auto Focus) processing, AE (Auto Exposure) processing, AWB
(Auto White Balance) processing, and EF (Electronic Flash
pre-emission) processing start based on the first shutter switch
signal SW1. The second shutter switch 64 is turned on by completing
the operation of the shutter button 61, that is, so-called full
stroke (image capture designation) and generates a second shutter
switch signal SW2. Based on the second shutter switch signal SW2,
the system control unit 50 starts a series of image capture
processing operations from signal read from the image sensing unit
22 to image data write in the recording medium 200.
[0037] The respective operation members of the operation unit 70
are appropriately allocated functions for each scene by, for
example, selectively operating various function icons displayed on
the display unit 28, and act as various function buttons. Examples
of the function buttons are an end button, a return button, an
image feed button, a jump button, a narrow-down button, and an
attribute change button. For example, when a menu button is
pressed, a menu screen capable of doing various settings is
displayed on the display unit 28. The user can intuitively do
various settings using the menu screen displayed on the display
unit 28, a 4-way selector, and a set button. The operation unit 70
also includes the above-described help button 73.
[0038] A power supply control unit 80 is formed from a battery
detection circuit, a DC/DC converter, a switch circuit for
switching a block to be energized, and the like, and detects the
presence/absence of battery attachment, the type of battery, and
the battery level. The power supply control unit 80 also controls
the DC/DC converter based on the detection result and a designation
from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage
to the units including the recording medium 200 for a necessary
period.
[0039] A power supply unit 30 is formed from a primary battery such
as an alkali battery or a lithium battery; a secondary battery such
as an NiCd battery, an NiMH battery, or an Li battery; an AC
adapter, or the like. A recording medium I/F 18 is an interface to
the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The
recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card
for recording captured images, and is formed from a semiconductor
memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.
[0040] [Overall Operation of Digital Camera]
[0041] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation
of the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment. Each
process of this flowchart is implemented by causing the system
control unit 50 to expand a program stored in the memory 56 or the
like on the system memory 52 and execute the program.
[0042] When the power switch 72 is operated to turn on the power
supply, the system control unit 50 initializes flags, controlled
variables, and the like in step S301. In step S302, the system
control unit 50 starts management processing for files recorded in
the recording medium 200.
[0043] In steps S303, S305, and S307, the system control unit 50
determines the current operation mode set by the mode change switch
60. If the current operation mode is the still image photographing
mode, the process advances from step S303 to step S304, and the
system control unit 50 executes still image photographing mode
processing. Details of the still image photographing mode
processing in step S304 will be described later with reference to
FIG. 4. If the current operation mode is the moving image
photographing mode, the process advances to step S306 via steps
S303 and S305, and the system control unit 50 executes moving image
photographing mode processing. If the current operation mode is the
reproduction mode, the process advances to step S308 via steps
S303, S305, and S307, and the system control unit 50 executes
reproduction mode processing.
[0044] If another mode is set, the process advances to step S309,
and the system control unit 50 executes processing corresponding to
the selected mode. The other mode includes, for example, a
transmission mode processing to transmit a file stored in the
recording medium 200, and a reception mode processing to receive a
file from an external apparatus and store it in the recording
medium 200. After executing processing corresponding to the mode
set by the mode change switch 60 out of the modes in steps S304,
S306 S308, and S309, the process advances to step S310. In step
S310, the system control unit 50 determines the setting of the
power switch 72. If the power switch 72 is set on, the process
returns to step S303. If the power switch 72 is set off, the
process advances for step S310 to step S311, and the system control
unit 50 performs termination processing. The termination processing
includes, for example,
[0045] changing the display of the display unit 28 to a termination
state and closing the barrier 102 to protect the image sensing unit
22, and
[0046] recording parameters, set values, and set modes including
flags and controlled variables in the nonvolatile memory 56, and
cutting off the power to portions that do not need power supply.
Then the termination processing in step S311 is completed, the
processing ends, and the power supply is shifted to the off
state.
[0047] [Still Image Photographing Mode Processing]
[0048] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the still image photographing mode
processing. FIG. 4 illustrates details of the processing from step
S304 in FIG. 3 described above. Each process of this still image
photographing mode processing is implemented by causing the system
control unit 50 to expand a program stored in the memory 56 or the
like on the system memory 52 and execute the program. Note that the
still image photographing mode processing shown in FIG. 4 is ended
by interrupt processing or the like when the operation mode is
changed to another mode by the mode change switch 60, or the power
switch 72 is set off.
[0049] When the still image photographing mode starts, the system
control unit 50 determines the photographing mode in step S400. The
photographing mode determination is done by obtaining, from the
nonvolatile memory 56, the photographing mode at the end of the
previous still image photographing mode and storing it in the
system memory 52. The photographing mode here is the photographing
mode to capture a still image. The digital camera 100 of this
embodiment has, for example, the following photographing modes.
[0050] Auto mode: various parameters of the camera are
automatically decided based on a measured exposure value by a
program installed in the digital camera 100.
[0051] Auto scene mode: the camera analyzes pieces of information
such as "person", "distance", "brightness", "color", and "motion"
from a captured image or various sensor outputs, determines the
photographic scene every time, and automatically does various
photographing settings in accordance with the determined
photographic scene.
[0052] Manual mode: the user can freely change various parameters
of the camera.
[0053] Scene mode: the combination of the shutter speed, the
f-number, the flash light emission amount, the sensitivity setting,
and the like suitable for a photographic scene is automatically
set.
[0054] Note that the scene mode further includes the following
modes.
[0055] Portrait mode: a mode specialized to capture a person while
blurring away the background to enhance the person.
[0056] Night view mode: a mode specialized to a night view, in
which a person is irradiated with flash light, and the background
is recorded at a low shutter speed.
[0057] Landscape mode: a mode specialized to a vast landscape
scene.
[0058] Night & snap mode: a mode suitable for clearly capturing
a night view and a person without using a tripod.
[0059] Kids & pets mode: a mode that enables to capture a child
or pet incapable of holding still without missing the best moment
for photographing.
[0060] Spring & autumn color mode: a mode suitable for
capturing trees and leaves in fresh green of spring or the
like.
[0061] Party mode: a mode to capture an object in faithful tint
under a fluorescent lamp or an incandescent lamp while suppressing
camera shake.
[0062] Snow mode: a mode to capture a person with a snowy
background without making the person dark and leaving tinges of
blue.
[0063] Beach mode: a mode that enables to capture a person or the
like on the sea or a beach with strong sunlight reflection without
making the person dark.
[0064] Fireworks mode: a mode to clearly capture skyrockets under
optimum exposure.
[0065] Aquarium mode: a mode to set a sensitivity, white balance,
and tint suitable for capturing fish and the like in an indoor
aquarium.
[0066] Underwater mode: a mode to set a white balance suitable in
water and perform photographing while suppressing tinges of
blue.
[0067] Monochrome mode: a mode to select a toning such as
black-and-white, sepia, blue, violet, or green and perform
photographing.
[0068] Full color mode: a mode to capture an image in vivid colors
and high saturation.
[0069] Through image mode: a mode that enables to select the
brightness, tone, and saturation by plain words and compose an
image.
[0070] When the photographing mode is determined, the system
control unit 50 performs through display to display image data from
the image sensing unit 22 on the display unit 28 in step S401. In
the through display, an image that is being captured by the image
sensing unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 28 as a moving
image almost in real time without recording it in the recording
medium 200. The operator can confirm the angle of view or estimate
the timing of photographing while viewing the through display.
[0071] In step S402, the system control unit 50 judges the battery
level of the power supply unit 30 formed from a battery or the like
using the power supply control unit 80, the presence/absence of the
recording medium 200, or whether the battery level poses a problem
in the operation of the digital camera 100. Upon judging that a
problem is present, the process advances to step S403, and the
system control unit 50 makes a predetermined warning indication by
an image or sound using the display unit 28, and returns the
process to step S400. Upon judging that the state of the power
supply unit 30 or the recording medium 200 is unproblematic, the
process advances to step S404.
[0072] In step S404, the system control unit 50 judges whether a
user operation of changing various photographing settings has been
done on the operation unit 70. If a photographing setting change
operation has been done, the process advances to step S405.
Otherwise, the process advances to step S406. Examples of the
changeable photographing settings are the settings of electronic
flash on/off, switching of continuous shooting/single shooting,
self timer, image size (number of pixels), aspect ratio, and
compression ratio. In the manual mode, the number of photographing
settings the user can do is larger than in other photographing
modes, and the f-number, the shutter speed, and the like can also
be set. In step S405, the photographing parameters are set in
accordance with the photographing setting change operation of the
user (the settings are changed).
[0073] On the other hand, in step S406, the system control unit 50
performs face detection to detect whether a human face exists in
the through-displayed image signal. Upon detecting a human face by
the face detection processing, the system control unit 50 stores
the position coordinates and the size (width and height) of each
face detected in the image signal, the number of detected faces,
the reliability coefficient, and the like in the system memory 52
as face information. If no face is detected by the face detection
processing, the system control unit 50 sets 0 in the regions of the
position coordinates, the size (width and height), the number of
detected faces, the reliability coefficient, and the like in the
system memory 52.
[0074] In step S407, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
current photographing mode is a photographing mode to perform auto
scene determination (automatically determine the photographic
scene), that is, an auto scene mode. In this embodiment, assume
that the auto scene mode is determined as true, and any other
photographing mode is determined as false. However, even another
photographing mode may be determined as true if it uses auto scene
determination. If the mode is a photographing mode to perform auto
scene determination, the process advances to step S408. Otherwise,
the process advances to step S409.
[0075] In step S408, the system control unit 50 performs scene
determination processing. Details of the scene determination
processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 5. In
step S409, the system control unit 50 performs help display
processing. Details of the help display processing will be
described later with reference to FIG. 6. In step S410, the system
control unit 50 judges whether the first shutter switch signal SW1
is on (photographing preparation designation reception). If the
first shutter switch signal SW1 is off, the process returns to step
S404. On the other hand, if the first shutter switch signal SW1 is
on, the process advances to step S411.
[0076] In step S411, the photographing preparation operation is
performed. The system control unit 50 performs focus processing and
sets the object in the focus of the photographing lens 103 (auto
focus processing), and also performs photometric processing and
decides the f-number and the shutter speed (exposure decision
processing). Note that the electronic flash setting is also done in
the photometric processing as needed. If a face has been detected
in step S406, face AF can be performed to do photometry within the
range of the detected face. In the auto scene mode, the
photographing preparation operation is optimized in accordance with
the current photographing mode determined by the scene
determination processing in step S408.
[0077] In steps S412 and S413, the on/off states of the first
shutter switch signal SW1 and the second shutter switch signal SW2
are judged. When the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned on
in the on state of the first shutter switch signal SW1, the process
advances from step S412 to step S414. When the first shutter switch
signal SW1 is turned off (when the second shutter switch signal SW2
remains off, and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is also turned
off), the process returns from step S413 to step S404. During the
time in which the first shutter switch signal SW1 is on, and the
second shutter switch signal SW2 is off, the processes in steps
S412 and S413 are repeated.
[0078] When the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned on, the
system control unit 50 changes the display state of the display
unit 28 from through display to a fixed color display state (for
example, display all in black) in step S414. In step S415, the
system control unit 50 executes photographing processing including
exposure processing and development processing. Note that in the
exposure processing, the image data obtained via the image sensing
unit 22 and the A/D converter 23 is written in the memory 32 via
the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or
directly from the A/D converter 23 via the memory control unit 15
alone. In the development processing, the system control unit 50
reads out the image data written in the memory 32 and performs
various kinds of processing using the memory control unit 15, and
as needed, the image processing unit 24.
[0079] Next, in step S416, the system control unit 50 performs, on
the display unit 28, quick review display of the image data
obtained by the photographing processing. The quick review display
is processing of displaying image data on the display unit 28 only
during a predetermined time (review time) immediately after
photographing the object to confirm the captured image. In step
S417, the system control unit 50 executes recording processing of
writing the image data obtained by the photographing processing in
the recording medium 200 as an image file.
[0080] In step S418, the system control unit 50 judges the on/off
state of the second shutter switch signal SW2. If the second
shutter switch signal SW2 is on, the judgment in step S418 is
repeated to wait until the second shutter switch signal SW2 is
turned off. During this time, the above-described quick review
display continues. That is, the above-described quick review
display on the display unit 28 continues until the second shutter
switch signal SW2 is turned off when the recording processing in
step S417 has ended. With this arrangement, the user can carefully
confirm the captured image data using the quick review display by
continuing the full stroke state of the shutter button 61. Upon
judging in step S418 that the second shutter switch signal SW2 is
off, that is, when the user cancels the full stroke state by, for
example, moving the hand off the shutter button 61, the process
advances to step S419.
[0081] In step S419, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
predetermined review time of the quick review display has elapsed.
If the review time has not elapsed, the processing waits for the
elapse of the review time. If the review time has elapsed, the
process advances to step S420. In step S420, the system control
unit 50 returns the display state of the display unit 28 for the
quick review display to the through display state. With this
processing, after the quick review display for confirming the
captured image data, the display state of the display unit 28
automatically changes to the through display state to sequentially
display image data from the image sensing unit 22 for next
photographing.
[0082] In step S421, the system control unit 50 judges the on/off
state of the first shutter switch signal SW1. If the first shutter
switch signal SW1 is on, the process returns to step S412. If the
first shutter switch signal SW1 is off, the process returns to step
S404. That is, when the half stroke state of the shutter button 61
continues (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is on), the system
control unit 50 prepares for the next photographing (step S412). On
the other hand, if the shutter button 61 has been released (the
first shutter switch signal SW1 is off), the system control unit 50
ends the series of photographing operations and returns to the
photographing standby state (step S405).
[0083] [Scene Determination Processing]
[0084] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating scene determination
processing, and shows details of the processing of step S408 in
FIG. 4 described above. This processing is implemented by, for
example, expanding a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56
on the system memory 52 and causing the system control unit 50 to
execute the program. Note that FIG. 5 shows an example in which
seven photographic scenes including normal photographing,
landscape, macro, portrait, sport, night view photographing by
hands, and night view photographing using a tripod are determined.
However, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0085] When the scene determination processing starts, the system
control unit 50 obtains the object brightness (the brightness value
of the object) from the image captured by the image sensing unit 22
(step S501). That is, in the digital camera 100, the system control
unit 50 performs brightness detection of detecting the brightness
value of the object in step S501. Next, the system control unit 50
judges whether the obtained object brightness is equal to or less
than a predetermined value set in a memory or the like in advance
(step S502). As the object brightness, brightness information
obtained in the past by photometric processing may be used.
[0086] If the object brightness is more than the predetermined
value in step S502, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
zoom button out of the operation unit 70 is being operated, that
is, a designation to adjust the angle of view is being received
from the user (step S503). Upon judging that the zoom button is not
being operated, the system control unit 50 performs face
detection/motion vector detection processing to obtain image blur
information (a motion detection result representing the motion of
the object) (step S504). On the other hand, upon judging that the
zoom button is being operated, the system control unit 50 advances
the process to step S505 without obtaining image blur
information.
[0087] Note that the motion vector is detected from, for example,
difference information obtained by comparing two time-sequential
frame images. More specifically, the system control unit 50
performs matching between a block formed from a plurality of pixels
and the peripheral blocks in the next frame image, and outputs the
positional relationship to a matching block as a motion vector. Out
of the motion vectors for a given time in one image, motion vectors
having a relatively small motion and the same direction are
determined as the background, and motion vectors having a large
motion and different directions are determined as a moving object.
The system control unit 50 subtracts a camera shake amount obtained
by camera shake/anti-vibration control processing from the motion
vector of the object, thereby obtaining the motion of the object as
image blur information.
[0088] Note that in step S502, the system control unit judges
whether the zoom button is being operated. However, it may be
judged whether a predetermined time has not elapsed yet from the
operation of the zoom button. As described above, the algorithm not
to obtain the image blur information may continuously be used while
the zoom button operation is being received or until the
predetermined period elapses from the end of reception of the zoom
button operation. Performing this processing allows the digital
camera 100 to suppress the influence of a variation in the angle of
view caused by the zoom button operation on the image blur
information and avoid a scene detection error. Note that when the
algorithm not to obtain the image blur information is used, scene
determination after that is performed using image blur information
obtained in the past, or the determination is done assuming that no
image blur exists.
[0089] The system control unit 50 judges based on the obtained
image blur information whether an image blur exists (step S505). If
an image blur exists, the system control unit 50 determines the
scene as "sport" (step S521), and ends the scene determination
processing. If no image blur exists in step S505, the system
control unit 50 performs face detection processing by face
detection/motion vector detection processing (step S506).
[0090] Next, the system control unit 50 judges whether the size of
the face detected in step S506 is equal to or larger than a
predetermined value (step S507). If a face is detected, and its
size is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the system
control unit 50 determines the scene as "portrait" (step S508), and
ends the scene determination processing.
[0091] If no face having a size equal to or larger than the
predetermined value is detected in step S507, the system control
unit 50 performs photometric processing of obtaining object
distance information representing the distance between the main
object and the digital camera 100 (step S509). More specifically,
in the photometric processing, the object distance information is
obtained by the hill-climbing method (contrast method) using an
image captured by the image sensing unit 22 or by a phase
difference sensor. The system control unit 50 then judges the
distance from the main object based on the obtained object distance
information (step S510). Object distance information obtained by
the past photometric processing may be used.
[0092] If the distance from the main object is equal to or smaller
than a predetermined value in step S510, the system control unit 50
determines the scene as "macro" (step S515), and ends the scene
determination processing. If the distance from the main object is
infinite in step S510, the system control unit 50 obtains color
information from the captured image (step S511) and judges based on
the obtained color information whether the object includes the sky
(step S512). Upon judging in step S512 that the object includes the
sky, the system control unit 50 determines the scene as "landscape"
(step S514), and ends the scene determination processing. On the
other hand, if the object does not include the sky in step S512,
the system control unit 50 determines the scene as "normal" (step
S513), and ends the scene determination processing. If the distance
from the main object is neither infinite nor equal to or smaller
than the predetermined value and has another value in step S510,
the system control unit 50 determines the scene as "normal" (step
S513), and ends the scene determination processing.
[0093] Note that when the scene is determined as "sport", the
system control unit 50 sets a shorter exposure time for image
capture than in a case in which the scene is determined as
"normal", thereby making the object image hard to blur. When the
scene is determined as "portrait", the system control unit 50 sets
a larger aperture diameter for image capture than in a case in
which the scene is determined as "normal", and causes the image
processing unit 24 to perform color processing of making the human
flesh color closer to the ideal flesh color at the time of
development. When the scene is determined as "macro", the system
control unit 50 sets the aperture diameter smaller than a range
settable in a case in which the scene is determined as "normal".
When the scene is determined as "landscape", the system control
unit 50 sets a smaller aperture diameter for image capture than in
a case in which the scene is determined as "normal", and causes the
image processing unit 24 to perform color processing of enhancing
the saturation of the image data at the time of development. As
described above, the system control unit 50 changes the control
parameters in the exposure processing or development processing in
accordance with the scene determination result.
[0094] If the object brightness is equal to or less than the
predetermined value in step S502, the system control unit 50 judges
whether the first shutter switch 62 of the operation unit 70 is
being operated. That is, the system control unit 50 judges whether
the first shutter switch 62 of the operation unit 70 is being
operated, and the operation of the first shutter switch 62 or the
operation unit 70 is being received (step S516). Note that in step
S516, the system control unit 50 may judge whether a predetermined
time has elapsed after reception of the operation of the first
shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70. The system control unit
50 may judge not only whether the first shutter switch 62 or the
operation unit 70 is being operated but also whether the zoom
button of the operation unit 70 is being operated.
[0095] If the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70 is
not being operated in step S516, the system control unit 50 obtains
camera shake information from a camera shake detection unit (step
S517). On the other hand, if the first shutter switch 62 or the
operation unit 70 is being operated, the system control unit 50
advances to the next processing (step S518) without obtaining
camera shake information. Performing this processing allows the
digital camera 100 to suppress the influence of the operation of
the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70 on the camera
shake information and avoid a scene detection error. Note that when
an algorithm not to obtain the camera shake information is used,
scene determination after that is performed using camera shake
information obtained in the past, or the determination is done
assuming that no camera shake exists.
[0096] Next, the system control unit 50 judges the presence/absence
of a camera shake from the obtained camera shake information (step
S518). Upon judging in step S518 that no camera shake exists, the
system control unit 50 determines the scene as "night view
photographing using a tripod" (step S520), and ends the scene
determination processing. Upon judging in step S518 that a camera
shake exists, the system control unit 50 determines the scene as
"night view photographing by hands" (step S519), and ends the scene
determination processing.
[0097] Note that when the scene is determined as "night view
photographing using a tripod", the system control unit 50 sets the
sensitivity of the image sensing unit 22 to the minimum value and
performs long-time exposure. When the scene is determined as "night
view photographing by hands", the system control unit 50 sets an
upper limit for the exposure time and raises the sensitivity of the
image sensing unit 22 by an amount of shortage for exposure.
[0098] As described above, the algorithm not to use the camera
shake information is continuously used while the operation of the
first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70 is being received
or until a predetermined period elapses from the end of reception
of the operation. As a result, the algorithm not to use the camera
shake information is continuously used in a state in which the
reliability of the camera shake information is low because of the
operation of the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70.
This allows the digital camera 100 to avoid a scene detection
error. Note that when not only the operation of the first shutter
switch 62 or the operation unit 70 but also the zoom operation is
performed, the scene determination processing may be performed
using the algorithm not to use the camera shake information.
[0099] Scene determination processing according to this embodiment
has been described above. The description has been made by
exemplifying the operation of the first shutter switch 62 or the
zoom operation as the condition not to obtain the camera shake
information or image blur information. However, the operation of
another operation member may be used as the condition, as a matter
of course. In an arrangement including a user interface whose
function is activated by applying a motion to the body of the
digital camera 100 not only the operation of a member provided in
the digital camera 100 but also a user operation of applying a
motion to the body may be used as the condition not to obtain the
information. That is, when the user has enabled the function of the
above-described user interface by applying a motion to the digital
camera 100, use of the camera shake information or image blur
information may be prohibited at the time at which the motion has
been detected.
[0100] [Help Display Processing]
[0101] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating help display processing,
and shows details of the processing of step S409 in FIG. 4
described above. This processing is implemented by expanding a
program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 on the system memory
52 and causing the system control unit 50 to execute the
program.
[0102] In step S601, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
help button 73 is pressed. If the help button 73 is pressed, the
process advances to step S602. Otherwise, the help display
processing ends, the process advances to step S410 in FIG. 4.
[0103] In step S602, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
current photographing mode is a photographing mode to perform auto
scene determination (automatically determine the photographic
scene). In this embodiment, assume that the auto scene mode is
determined as true, and any other photographing mode is determined
as false. However, even another photographing mode may be
determined as true if it performs auto scene determination. If the
mode is a photographing mode to perform auto scene determination,
the process advances to step S604. Otherwise, the process advances
to step S603.
[0104] In step S603, the system control unit 50 performs operation
member help display processing to display a description associated
with an operation member. The operation member help display
processing is processing of giving a guidance about the function of
each member of the operation unit 70 in the current operation mode.
If the current operation mode is a photographing mode other than
the auto scene mode, it can be assumed that the user is going to
determine the current photographic scene by himself/herself and
perform photographing under photographing settings decided by
himself/herself. For this reason, a description of the function of
the operation unit 70 necessary for the user to change the
photographing settings by himself/herself is displayed to assist
the user operation. Details of the operation member help display
processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 7. When
the process in step S603 has ended, the help display processing
ends, and the process advances to step S410 in FIG. 4.
[0105] In step S604, the system control unit 50 performs scene help
display. In the scene help display, a description associated with
the photographic scene currently determined by auto scene
determination is displayed. For example, what kind of photographic
scene is being determined, what kind of photographing
(photographing settings) is to be done based on the photographic
scene under determination, and a note or advice for photographing
the photographic scene under determination are displayed. If the
current photographing mode is the auto scene mode or another
photographing mode using auto scene determination, it can be
assumed that the user is going to perform photographing while
leaving current photographic scene determination and photographing
settings to the camera instead of doing them by himself/herself.
For this reason, a description of the function of the operation
unit 70 necessary for the user to change the photographing settings
by himself/herself is unnecessary at a high probability. If
anything, recognizing what kind of photographing will be
automatically performed by leaving everything to the camera
reassures the user. It can also be assumed that the user who
performs photographing while leaving everything to the camera is
inexperienced in photographing at a high probability. Hence, an
advice about, for example, how to hold the camera is displayed,
thereby assisting the user so as to do appropriate photographing.
Details of the scene help display will be described later with
reference to FIG. 8. When the processing in step S604 has ended,
the help display processing ends, and the process advances to step
S410 in FIG. 4.
[0106] Note that in the processing shown in FIG. 6 described above,
upon judging in step S601 that the help button 73 is pressed, a
scene help is displayed independently of the previous display state
of the display unit 28. That is, even when no through image is
displayed on the display unit 28 or the display is off, an
operation member help or scene help is displayed on the display
unit 28 in accordance with the press of the help button 73.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even upon
judging in step S601 that the help button 73 is pressed, if no
through image is displayed on the display unit 28 or the display is
off, the help display processing may end without advancing to any
one of steps S602 to S604. If no through image is displayed on the
display unit 28 or the display is off, the user is assumed to be
going to perform photographing while seeing through the viewfinder
without focusing on the display unit 28. That is, when no through
image is displayed on the display unit 28 or the display of the
display unit 28 is off, the help display may be prohibited even
when the help button 73 is pressed. Alternatively, if the help
button 73 is pressed when no through image is displayed on the
display unit 28 or the display is off, the display unit 28 may
display
[0107] a warning representing that no help is displayed because no
through image is displayed, or
[0108] a guidance representing that the help is displayed by
changing the settings to display the through image
[0109] [Operation Member Help Display Processing]
[0110] The operation member help display processing in step S603 of
FIG. 6 described above will be explained. FIGS. 11A to 11C show
examples of screens displayed on the display unit 28 by the
operation member help processing.
[0111] FIG. 11A shows an example of the screen of initial display
in the operation member help display. In the initial display of the
operation member help display, an operation member indication 1101,
a description item list 1102, a selected operation member mark
1103, and an item selection frame 1104 are displayed on the display
unit 28. The operation member indication 1101 illustrates a portion
where the members of the operation unit 70 concentrate out of the
outer appearance of the digital camera 100. The description item
list 1102 indicates a list of description items of operation
members. The selected operation member mark 1103 indicates an
operation member corresponding to the item currently selected in
the description item list 1102. The item selection frame 1104
indicates the item currently selected in the description item list
1102.
[0112] FIG. 11B shows an example of the operation member help
display screen when an item different from that in FIG. 11A is
selected in the description item list 1102. The selected item in
the description item list 1102 can be changed by operating up and
down buttons included in the operation unit 70. When the selected
item is changed, the item selection frame 1104 is displayed on the
changed selected item. The selected operation member mark 1103 is
displayed on the operation member corresponding to the changed
selected item out of the operation member indication 1101.
[0113] FIG. 11C shows an example in which a detailed description of
the function indicated by the item selected in the description item
list 1102 is displayed. When the user presses a right button
included in the operation unit 70 from the state in which the
description item list 1102 is displayed, a more detailed
description can be displayed for the function indicated by the item
selected in the description item list 1102. At this time, the
operation member indication 1101 and the selected operation member
mark 1103 remain displayed so that the user can know which is the
operation member to be operated to activate the function the
displayed detailed description concerns. For example, when the
right button is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 11B, the display
changes to that in FIG. 11C. When the left button included in the
operation unit 70 or the help button 73 is pressed in the state
shown in FIG. 11C, the display can return to the initial display
state shown in FIG. 11B.
[0114] Performing the above-described display shown in FIGS. 11A to
11C allows the user to recognize what kind of photographing
settings can be done by operating which operation member. Details
of operation member help display processing of doing display as
shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C will be explained next.
[0115] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operation member help
display processing, and shows details of the processing of step
S603 in FIG. 6 described above. This processing is implemented by,
for example, expanding a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory
56 on the system memory 52 and causing the system control unit 50
to execute the program.
[0116] In step S701, the system control unit 50 obtains, from the
nonvolatile memory 56, a list of effective operation members in the
current photographing mode out of the operation unit 70. In step
S702, the system control unit 50 displays, on part of the display
unit 28, image data that illustrates the portion where the members
of the operation unit 70 concentrate out of the outer appearance of
the digital camera 100, like the operation member indication 1101
shown in FIG. 11A.
[0117] In step S703, the system control unit 50 displays the
description item list 1102 on the display unit 28 based on the list
obtained in step S701. In step S704, the system control unit 50
displays the item selection frame 1104 on the item (current item)
selected in the above-described description item list 1102. In
addition, the system control unit 50 displays the selected
operation member mark 1103 on the selected operation member
corresponding to the selected item out of the operation member
indication 1101. A display example of this result is shown in FIG.
11A described above.
[0118] In step S705, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
help button 73 is pressed. If the help button 73 is pressed, the
help display processing ends. If the help button 73 is not pressed,
the process advances to step S706. In step S706, the system control
unit 50 judges whether the up button or down button (to be referred
to as the up/down button hereinafter) included in the operation
unit 70 is pressed. If the up/down button is pressed, the process
advances to step S707. Otherwise, the process advances to step
S708.
[0119] In step S707, the system control unit 50 changes the
selected item (current item) out of the description item list 1102
in accordance with the operation of the above-described up/down
button, and moves the item selection frame 1104 to the current
item. For example, when the up button is pressed, an item
immediately above the currently selected item is selected in the
above-described description item list 1102. When the down button is
pressed, an item immediately below the currently selected item is
selected in the above-described description item list 1102. If the
item immediately above or below the currently selected item does
not exist, the item selection frame may remain on the current item,
or the first item on the opposite side may be selected. In
addition, the system control unit 50 changes the display position
of the selected operation member mark 1103 in accordance with the
change in the selected item, and displays the selected operation
member mark 1103 on the operation member corresponding to the
selected item out of the operation member indication 1101. A
display example when the down button is pressed five times in the
state shown in FIG. 11A is shown in FIG. 11B described above.
[0120] In step S708, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
right button included in the operation unit 70 is pressed. If the
right button is pressed, the process advances to step S709. If the
right button is not pressed, the process returns to step S705. In
step S709, the system control unit 50 displays a detailed
description screen for the function indicated by the item selected
in the description item list 1102. For example, when the right
button is pressed in the display shown in FIG. 11B, the system
control unit 50 displays the screen shown in FIG. 11C described
above on the display unit 28. This allows the user to see a
description concerning the operation member intentionally selected
by him/her.
[0121] In step S710, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
left button included in the operation unit 70 or the help button 73
is pressed. If the button is pressed, the process advances to step
S713. Otherwise, the process advances to step S711. In step S711,
the system control unit 50 judges whether the up/down button is
pressed. If the button is pressed, the process advances to step
S712. Otherwise, the process returns to step S710.
[0122] In step S712, the system control unit 50 performs scroll
processing of the displayed description. However, if the
description fits in the screen, the scroll processing need not be
performed. In step S713, the system control unit 50 sets the
description of the item as shown in FIG. 11C in a non-display
state, and returns the process to step S703. With this processing,
the description indication state ends, and the display returns to
the state shown in FIG. 11B.
[0123] The operation member help display processing of causing the
user to select an operation member he/she wants to know in detail
and displaying a description thereof is thus performed.
[0124] [Scene Help Display]
[0125] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating scene help display
processing, and shows details of the processing of step S604 in
FIG. 6 described above. This scene help display processing is
implemented by, for example, causing the system control unit 50 to
expand a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like
on the system memory 52, execute the program, and control display
of the display unit 28 or the like.
[0126] In step S801, the system control unit 50 obtains the result
of scene determination described with reference to FIG. 5 from the
nonvolatile memory 56. In step S802, the system control unit 50
stops the scene determination processing. The scene determination
processing is stopped to increase the readability of the
description of a scene or an advice at the time of scene help
display. When reading the description of a scene, the user reads
the description while directing the camera to the ground in many
cases, instead of continuously directing it to the object. If scene
determination is done without directing the camera to the object, a
photographic scene different from that to be photographed by the
user is determined. For this reason, displaying a help for a result
obtained by performing scene determination without directing the
camera to the object is meaningless. In addition, if the scene
determination is not stopped, the situation of the object may
change during reading of the description, and the scene
determination result may change accordingly. Hence, the description
the user is reading may change to the description of another scene,
resulting in difficulty in reading the description. In this
embodiment, to solve this problem, scene determination is stopped
during scene help display. Note that even if the scene
determination result changes during scene help display, the
contents of the scene help are prohibited from changing. Hence,
this can also be implemented by prohibiting storage of the changed
scene contents in the nonvolatile memory 56 without stopping the
scene determination or by storing the contents in the nonvolatile
memory 56 and prohibiting setting read at the time of scene help
display.
[0127] In step S803, the system control unit 50 obtains a scene
description indication corresponding to the detected scene from the
nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. For
example, a description of the contents of photographing settings
that are automatically done in accordance with the scene
determination result is displayed. In this embodiment, an example
of the correspondence table between a detected scene and a
description is shown in FIG. 13. The nonvolatile memory 56 holds a
table as shown in FIG. 13, and the system control unit 50 obtains a
text to be displayed on the help screen from this table. Examples
of the display screen will be explained below with reference to
FIGS. 12A to 12I.
[0128] FIGS. 12A to 12C show examples of the photographing standby
screen displayed on the display unit 28 before display of a scene
help in the scene determination mode. The through image and a scene
icon 1200 representing the scene determined at that point of time
are displayed. FIG. 12A shows an example of the standby screen when
the scene determination result is "normal". The scene icon 1200
representing the normal state is superimposed on the through image
and displayed on the display unit 28. FIG. 12B shows an example of
the photographing standby screen when the scene determination
result is "person". FIG. 12C shows an example of the photographing
standby screen when the scene determination result is "macro".
[0129] FIGS. 12D to 12F show display examples when the help button
73 is pressed in the states shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C,
respectively. FIGS. 12D to 12F show examples of the display screen
displayed by the processing in step S903. FIG. 12D shows a display
example in the normal state, FIG. 12E shows a display example for
scene: person, and FIG. 12F shows a display example for scene:
macro.
[0130] The arrangement of the screen will be explained with
reference to FIG. 12D. A scene icon 1201 larger than the scene icon
1200 displayed before the scene help display is displayed. A
through image 1202 is displayed semitransparently. A description
indication 1203 that describes the name and outline of the scene
(the scene represented by the scene icon 1201) determined
immediately before the scene help display is displayed.
Semitransparently displaying the through image 1202 allows to
increase the visual perceptivity of the scene icon 1201 and the
description indication 1203. The through image 1202 allows the user
to judge whether the scene represented by the scene icon 1201 and
determined immediately before the scene help display matches the
current situation under photographing. Hence, the user can know
what kind of auto scene determination result is obtained by
photographing what kind of scene. The user can also judge whether
the contents of the scene help currently displayed are continuously
suitable for the current photographing situation. It is therefore
possible to improve the visual perceptivity of the help and also
confirm the current scene.
[0131] In step S804, the system control unit 50 starts the display
timer to control the display time of the scene description
indication. In step S805, the system control unit 50 judges whether
the timer has counted a designated time. The scene description
indication is continued until the time-out of the timer. However,
if a user operation indicating the intention to end the scene help
display (in this embodiment, an operation of pressing the help
button 73) is detected during waiting for the time-out of the
timer, the scene help display processing ends (step S806).
[0132] In step S807, the system control unit 50 obtains an advice
indication corresponding to the detected scene from the nonvolatile
memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. An example of the
correspondence between a detected scene and an advice text is shown
in the table of FIG. 13. FIGS. 12G and 12H show display examples of
the screen in step S807. FIG. 12G shows a display example for
scene: person, and FIG. 12H shows a display example for scene:
macro.
[0133] The layout of the display is the same as in the scene
description indication except that only an advise indication
portion 1204 is different. For a scene that does not need any
advice, like "scene: normal", the advise indication can be omitted.
In this case, for example, only the scene description is displayed
without switching between the scene description and the advice.
[0134] In step S808, the system control unit 50 starts the display
timer to control the display time of the advise indication. In step
S809, the system control unit 50 judges whether the timer has
counted a designated time. The advice indication is continued until
the time-out of the timer. However, if a user operation indicating
the intention to end the scene help display (in this embodiment, an
operation of pressing the help button 73) is detected during
waiting for the time-out of the timer, the scene help display
processing ends (step S810).
[0135] In step S811, the system control unit 50 counts the number
of times of description and advice display and stores the count
value in the nonvolatile memory 56. In step S812, the system
control unit 50 judges whether the count value representing the
number of times of display is 3 or less. If the count value is 3 or
less, the process returns to step S803 to repeat the
above-described scene description indication and advice indication.
On the other hand, if the count value exceeds 3, the advice
indication is continuously displayed until a user operation
indicating the intention to end the scene help display is detected
(in this embodiment, until an operation of pressing the help button
73 is detected) (step S813). By the processes in steps S803 to
S812, the description and advice are automatically alternately
displayed. Hence, the user can confirm the description and advice
corresponding to the scene determination.
[0136] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when
the operation of calling a help is performed, the user can see a
description of a more suitable matter based on whether scene
determination is being performed. Additionally, in the scene help
display, once the description of a photographic scene is displayed,
the photographic scene as the help display target is fixed
independently of the photographic scene determination result after
that. That is, in the scene help display, help display concerning
the photographic scene immediately before the screen is displayed
is fixed. For this reason, the user can properly read the
description that is being displayed even if the scene changes
during the description indication.
Second Embodiment
[0137] [Scene Help Display]
[0138] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating scene help display
processing according to the second embodiment, and shows details of
the processing of step S604 in FIG. 6 described above. Each process
of this scene help display is implemented by, for example, causing
a system control unit 50 to expand a program recorded in a
nonvolatile memory 56 or the like on a system memory 52 and execute
the program.
[0139] In step S901, the system control unit 50 obtains the result
of scene determination processing described with reference to FIG.
5 from the nonvolatile memory 56. In step S902, the system control
unit 50 obtains a scene description indication corresponding to the
detected scene from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on a
display unit 28. The scene description indication is the same as in
the first embodiment.
[0140] In step S903, the system control unit 50 starts the display
timer to control the display time of the scene description
indication. In step S904, the system control unit 50 judges whether
the timer has timed out. The scene description indication is
continued until the time-out of the display timer. However, if a
user operation indicating the intention to end the scene help
display (in this embodiment, an operation of pressing a help button
73) is detected during waiting for the time-out of the display
timer, the scene help display processing ends (step S905). In
addition, if on of a help display change flag is detected during
waiting for the time-out of the display timer, the system control
unit 50 advances the process to step S916 to change the display to
a help display corresponding to the scene that has changed. The
help display change flag indicates that the user has an intention
to change the help display based on a change in the scene
determination result, and is set by processing to be described
later with reference to FIG. 10. In step S916, the system control
unit 50 turns off the help display change flag and returns the
process to step S901 to execute help display corresponding to a new
scene.
[0141] When the display timer has timed out, the process advances
from step S904 to step S907. In step S907, the system control unit
50 obtains an advice indication corresponding to the detected scene
from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit
28. The advice indication is the same as in the first
embodiment.
[0142] In step S908, the system control unit 50 starts the display
timer to control the display time of the advise indication. In step
S909, the system control unit 50 judges whether the display timer
has counted a designated time. The advice indication is continued
until the time-out of the display timer. However, if a user
operation indicating the intention to end the scene help display
(in this embodiment, an operation of pressing the help button 73)
is detected during waiting for the time-out of the display timer,
the scene help display processing ends (step S910). In addition, if
on of the help display change flag (to be described later with
reference to FIG. 10) is detected during waiting for the time-out
of the display timer, the system control unit 50 advances the
process to step S916 to change the display to a help display
corresponding to the scene that has changed. This processing is the
same as that during waiting for the time-out of the display timer
in step S904.
[0143] When the display timer has timed out, the process advances
from step S909 to step S912. In step S912, the system control unit
50 counts the number of times of description and advice display and
stores the count value in the nonvolatile memory 56. In step S913,
the system control unit 50 judges whether the count value
representing the number of times of display is 3 or less. If the
count value is 3 or less, the process returns to step S902 to
repeat the above-described scene description indication and advice
indication. On the other hand, if the count value exceeds 3, the
advice indication is continuously displayed
[0144] until a user operation indicating the intention to end the
scene help display is detected (in this embodiment, until an
operation of pressing the help button 73 is detected) or
[0145] until a user's intention to change the help display based on
a change in the scene determination result is detected (until on of
the help display change flag is detected) (steps S914 and
S915).
[0146] [Scene Change Confirmation Processing]
[0147] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating scene change
confirmation processing. Each process of this scene change
confirmation processing is implemented by, for example, causing the
system control unit 50 to expand a program recorded in the
nonvolatile memory 56 or the like on the system memory 52 and
execute the program. The processes shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are
assumed to be executed parallelly by, for example, multitask
processing. More specifically, while the scene help display
processing shown in FIG. 9 is being executed, the scene change
confirmation processing shown in FIG. 10 is parallelly
executed.
[0148] In step S1001, the system control unit 50 obtains the result
of scene determination processing described with reference to FIG.
5 from the nonvolatile memory 56, and judges whether the scene has
changed by comparing the scene determination result with the
contents of previous scene determination. As long as the scene
remains unchanged, the processing in step S1001 is repeated. If the
scene has changed, the process advances to step S1002.
[0149] In step S1002, the system control unit 50 displays an
indication representing the change on the display unit 28 that is
displaying a scene description or advice. A display example is
shown in FIG. 12I. FIG. 12I shows a display example when the scene
determination result has changed in the display state shown in FIG.
12H. A scene change indication 1205 is displayed, thereby notifying
the user of the scene change. In addition, a left/right arrow icon
is displayed to indicate that the scene as the target of the scene
description or advice can be changed by operating the left and
right buttons.
[0150] In step S1003, the system control unit 50 judges whether the
user has operated one of the left and right buttons of an operation
unit 70. Upon judging that the user has not performed the button
operation, the system control unit 50 continuously monitors the
user operation. Upon judging that the left or right button has been
operated, the process advances to step S1004.
[0151] In step S1004, the system control unit 50 changes the help
display change flag to on and returns the process to step S1001.
This allows to always notify the user to a scene change. In
addition, since the user operation on the left or right button or
the like serves as a trigger to turn on the help display change
flag, the description and advice of the changed scene can be
confirmed by the above-described processes in steps S906, S911, and
S915.
[0152] As described above, according to the second embodiment, when
the operation of calling a help is performed, the user can see a
description of a more suitable matter based on whether scene
determination is being performed, as in the first embodiment.
Additionally, the scene help display is fixed to the description of
the scene immediately before the screen is displayed. For this
reason, the user can properly read the description that is being
displayed even if the scene changes during the description
indication. In the second embodiment, scene determination is done
even during the scene help display. When the scene has changed, the
user is asked whether to change the scene help display (the scene
change indication 1205 in FIG. 12I). If the user has input a
designation to change the scene help display, the scene help
display is updated based on the latest scene determination result.
Hence, according to the second embodiment, since the help display
is not automatically changed, the user can properly read the
description of the help and also read the latest scene
determination result.
[0153] Note that in the above-described embodiments, the history of
scene changes determined by the scene determination may be stored,
one scene may be selected from the stored scene history by
operating the left and right keys, and a description and advice may
be displayed for the selected scene. In the above-described
embodiments, the display of the description associated with the
operation unit and the description associated with the scene
determination result are automatically switched depending on the
operation mode (whether to use the scene determination) at the time
of the operation of the help button 73. However, the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, a dedicated
operation means for displaying the description concerning the scene
determination result may be provided.
[0154] Note that the control by the above-described system control
unit 50 can be either performed by one piece of hardware or
divisionally performed by a plurality of pieces of hardware to
control the entire apparatus.
[0155] The present invention has been described in detail based on
the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not
limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms are also
incorporated in the present invention without departing from the
scope and spirit of the present invention. The above-described
embodiments merely indicate an example of the present invention,
and the embodiments can also be combined appropriately.
[0156] In the above embodiments, an example has been described in
which the present invention is applied to a digital camera.
However, the present invention is not limited to this example and
is also applicable to any electronic apparatus having an image
capture means. More specifically, the present invention is
applicable to a digital video camera, a digital camera, or a
personal computer, a PDA, a cellular phone terminal, a music
player, a game machine or the like equipped with a digital video
camera.
[0157] As described above, according to the above-described
embodiments, it is possible to appropriately display a help in
accordance with a scene determination result.
[0158] Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a
computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU)
that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device
to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a
system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a
program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the
above-described embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program is
provided to the computer for example via a network or from a
recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (for
example, computer-readable storage medium).
[0159] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0160] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2012-014578 filed Jan. 26, 2012, Japanese Patent
Application No. 2012-014579 filed Jan. 26, 2012, and Japanese
Patent Application No. 2012-018822 filed Jan. 31, 2012, which are
hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
* * * * *